Trouser marker

ABSTRACT

It is an object of the method and device disclosed herein to provide a method of accurately measuring a desired hem length above a wearer&#39;s instep while pants are being worn. It is further an object of this disclosure to provide a method and device whereby only two measurements for each pant leg need be taken. It is still further the object of this disclosure to provide a method that decreases the time and effort that it takes to measure and mark the hem of a pair of pants.

BACKGROUND

Garment hems, such as those of a pair of pants, typically are designed to fall to an even height from the floor. That height varies depending upon current trends in fashion, the particular style of each pair, the wearer's body's measurements and tastes. Hand made or custom tailored clothing has an unfinished lower edge that is finished and hemmed based to fit a particular individual wearer, while mass manufactured, ready to wear pants are hemmed to a standard length, and the wearer may change the length as desired. Therefore, regardless of whether pants are mass produced or custom made, the wearer the hem often needs to be hand sewn.

Hemming pants by hand is using the tools of the prior art is slow and labor intensive: Typically, the entire circumference of each hem of each pair of pants must be pinned up while the pants are being worn to accurately measure the pinned hem length. This may take up to 10 minutes for each pair of pants to be hemmed. For a wearer with a non-standard body configuration, that means that every pair of pants bought means that the wearer must either pay a tailor to pin and hem them, or else prevail upon a friend or family member to pin the hem, something that another person may be unwilling or unable to do, or to do well. In addition to the hem of the garment itself, there is often an inner lining to be separately hemmed, and these lining hems typically must fall so that they are not visible below the outer garment's hem. A pair of lined pants therefore requires four separate hems to be hand finished.

When pants are measured for hem length according using the method or devices according to the prior art, the wearer dons the pants, stands, and then rotates in place slowly while another person, pins the hems of the pants' legs to the desired hem length. Prior art hem measurement devices, such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, include variations on straight rulers that are stood on one end, perpendicular to the floor, after which the worn garment is placed against the ruler for pinning. The wearer typically determines that the pants hem fall to a length X inches above the floor, and the wearer turns slowly, the other person measuring and pinning the hem to fall X inches above the floor. Fabric often must be measured several times for an even hem to result, and for the hems of both legs of a pair of pants to match one another.

Using such prior art devices, it is difficult for a person who is not a tailor to accurately and reproducibly pin up the pants hem because the wearer's foot typically obstructs the ruler. Approximations must be made to accommodate the geometry of a wearer's foot or particular shoe, and many people, including the wearer, often lack the patience to take enough time with each pair of pants to ensure that the pant's hems are even.

Use of such prior art devices also may result in uneven hems if the person measuring the trouser hem does not hold the measuring ruler perpendicular to the floor for each measurement. Only one measurement is taken at a time before the ruler must be moved relative to the trouser leg being hemmed, and before the next measurement, the ruler's perpendicular alignment and consistent distance from the wearer must be visually confirmed. Variations from a perpendicular position or distance from the user occur frequently results in uneven hem lengths.

Instead of having to separately pin each pair of pants altered, it would be expedient to pin only a first pair of pants, and then be able to use those measurements for all subsequent pants for that wearer in that style. For these reasons and others, a device and method for more efficiently making measurements for hemming pants to a pre-determined length is needed, and such a device and method are disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED DEVICE

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a garment hem length measurement method and device that gives a user a reference point and standard hem length for use on subsequent pairs of pants hemmed for a particular wearer, without the wearer being required to have the entire hem of each leg pinned while the pants are being worn by the wearer. It is also an object of the method and device disclosed herein to provide a method of accurately measuring a desired hem length above a wearer's instep while pants are being worn. It is further an object of this disclosure to provide a method and device whereby only two measurements for each pant leg need be taken. It is still further the object of this disclosure to provide method that decreases the time and effort that it takes to measure and mark the hem of a pair of pants.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one example of prior art.

FIG. 2 is a front and side perspective of one embodiment of the disclosed device placed over the instep of a wearer's foot.

FIG. 3 provides illustration of the method of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE DISCLOSED DEVICE

Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen how one embodiment of the disclosed device 10 can be placed over the instep of a wearer's foot (shown in hash marks). The device 10 of FIG. 2 is generally in the shape of a planar right isosceles triangle symmetrical about a center line L lying at a right angle to its base 12. An apex 14 may comprise any symmetrical shape about center line L. A first side 110 and second side 120, of equal lengths, depend from the apex 14 to the base 12. The device of FIG. 2 discloses a device comprising an apex 14 lying perpendicular to the line L defined by the base 12, but this perpendicular apex is not required. Additionally, an arch 16 is defined at the center of the base 12, which arch is symmetrical about center line L and which may be of any shape that permits the arch to fit over a wearer's shod foot. From floor to the top of apex 14, the device 10 has a known height H.

Depending upon the standard used by the area in which the method and device of the disclosure is practiced, the height H may be represented in at least one of two systems of measurement, for example, one foot or 10 cm. In FIG. 2, that height H is one foot. If the height H is one foot, then each of the two legs or sides 110, 120 of the device 10 typically bear the markings of a one foot ruler divided into ⅛″ divisions as their smallest measured length. If the height H is 10 cm, then each of the two legs or sides 110, 120 of the device 10 typically are divided into 1 mm divisions as their smallest measured length. The method of using the device 10 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The pants to be hemmed are worn by a standing wearer (shown in hash marks). The arch of the device 16 is aligned by a user over a first arch of the of the wearer's feet, and the apex 14 is put into contact with the front leg of the pants directly above the first arch, as shown in FIG. 3 a. The user makes a mark at the point where the apex 14 intersects with the pants, using either chalk, pin, or other marking device. This mark corresponds to the known height H and serves as a reference mark R1.

The user removes the device 10 from over the wearer's first arch and places it 180 degrees around the wearer's leg, so that it rests against the back of the wearer's first calf or lower leg, as illustrated in FIG. 3 b. The user makes a second reference mark R2. The user then removes the device 10 and repeats the method on the wearer's second arch and second calf or lower leg, again making two reference marks, resulting in two pants legs each with a pair of reference marks on the front and back of each pants leg.

Finally, the user sets aside the device 10, and pins one leg of the wearer's pants to hang evenly above the floor, as shown in FIG. 3 c. The wearer may then remove the pants and the user continues to hem the pants using the device 10.

The user places the pants leg pinned to the desired height on a flat surface and, using either side 110, 120 of the device 10, measures the distances D1, D2 from the reference marks R1, R2 to the pinned hem. The distances D1, D2 often vary between each other, as the drop of the pants from front center to back center of a pants leg can be different, depending on the style of the pants, the heels worn, and other variables.

These distances D1, D2 will now be the lengths that the user will use to pin the hem of the second leg of the pants. They will also serve for the hem distances for all future pants of this style for this wearer. Using the method and device of this disclosure, the wearer may merely don a pair of pants, and the user may use the device 10 to make the reference marks R1, R2 on each pants leg. Then the wearer may take off the pants and the user proceed to hemming the pants using the D1, D2 lengths formerly obtained. 

1. A planar pants hemming device having a shape derived from an isosceles triangle having a base defining a base line, two sides, a vertex, the base defining an arch adapted to receive an arch of a human foot, a height H comprising the shortest distance between the base line and the vertex, and the height H represented in measured units along each of the two sides, beginning with the measurement “0” at the vertex and proceeding down each of the two sides toward the base.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the vertex defines a line parallel to the base line.
 3. The method of using the device of the disclosure comprising: a. a wearer putting on a pair of pants to be hemmed and standing proximate a user on a floor or surface; b. the user placing the base of the device at a first position on the floor proximate the wearer and about perpendicular to the floor, and placing the vertex proximate the fabric of a first pants leg of the pants worn by the wearer; c. the user making a first reference mark on the fabric of the pants leg directly above the vertex of the device, the first reference mark corresponding to the height H of the device as measured from the floor to the vertex at the first position; d. the user placing the base of the device on the floor in a second position about 180 degrees around the same leg from the first position and about perpendicular to the floor, and placing the vertex proximate the fabric of the first pants leg of the pants worn by the wearer; e. the user making a second reference mark on the fabric of the pants leg directly above the vertex of the device, the second reference mark corresponding to the height H of the device as measured from the floor to the vertex at the second position; f. the user performing the acts disclosed in subparagraphs a-e, above, for the wearer's second leg; g. the user setting aside the device, and pinning the fabric of at least one marked pant leg of the wearer's pants to hang evenly above the floor; h. the wearer removing the pants; i. the user placing the at least one pants leg that has been both marked with a first and second reference mark and that has a pinned hem on a flat surface; j. the user using one side of the disclosed device for measuring the shortest distance between the first reference mark and the pinned hem, and recording that distance as D1, measuring the shortest distance between the second reference mark and the pinned hem, and recording that distance as D2; k. the user measuring D1 downward on the second pant leg from the first reference mark and pinning the hem to the distance D1, the user measuring D2 downward on the second pant leg from the second reference mark and pinning the hem to the distance D2; l. the user hemming the second pant leg to conform to D1 and D2; and m. for any subsequent pants to be hemmed for that wearer, the wearer donning the pants to be hemmed, the user making first and second reference marks on the first and second pant legs, the user referencing the distances from the first and second reference marks D1, and D2 and pinning the hem of each pants leg es reference marks R1, R2 on each leg of the pants, the wearer removing the pants, the user referring to the distances D1, D2 from the prior hemming job for the wearer, and the user marking and pinning the hems of the wearer's pants from the first and second reference marks to conform to the distances D1 and D2. d hem the pants to conform to the distances from R1, R2, namely D1, D2.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the user first marks R1 against the calf of the wearer.
 5. The method of claim 3 wherein the user first marks R1 by aligning the arch of the device over the arch of the wearer's foot and making the first reference mark over the arch of the wearer.
 6. The method of claim 3 wherein the order of steps disclosed in subparagraphs f and g are reversed.
 7. The method of claim 3 wherein, after the wearer remove the pants, the wearer may perform the steps disclosed in subparagraphs i, j, k and l. 